“I don’t care, you are hardly role model material right now. Today, it will be sorted out properly once and for all. We need to stand united and you two look on the verge of going to war with each other. Be there at 4 PM.” He hangs up before I can argue further.
“Damn it,” I curse, throwing the phone onto the bed. It’s already 3:30 PM—the sinking feeling in my gut tells me this will end badly but what choice do I have?
“Your father being a dick?” Zayn’s voice, laced with concern, breaks through my frustration.
“Yeah,” I admit, running a hand through my tousled hair. “He wants me at pack training to sort out the drama with Lydia.”
“Lydia again?” Zayn’s gray eyes flash with a mixture of irritation and something else. “That girl is nothing but trouble for you.”
“Tell me about it.” I push myself off his lap. My movements are jerky and rushed. I have to get ready, have to face whatever ridiculous resolution Dad has in mind.
“Don’t go, come back to mine.” Zayn’s hand catches mine, stilling my frantic movements. His thumb brushes over my skin, dread coils in my belly.
“I have to, you know this.”
He hangs his head and curses. “Fine, just be careful around her.”
“Always am,” I respond, though my bravado feels like it’s wearing thin these days. “Don’t worry about me. I’ll handle it, I am not your problem.”
“Like hell you aren’t,” he says, the edge in his tone making me pause. “You shouldn’t go alone.”
“Zayn, this is pack business. I have to deal with it. My father would flip his lid if you showed up with me.” I slip my hand from his grasp, feeling the loss of his warmth immediately.
“Pack business or not, it sounds like a trap Lydia has you walking into,” he insists, standing to tower over me. His presence is commanding, reassuring, and yet utterly infuriating.
“Since when are you my keeper?” I shoot back, the emotional turmoil bubbling into defiance.
“Since I started dating you, Cleo.”
“You’re being ridiculous.”
“Am I? Because you’ve had nothing but issues for weeks now with that bitch and every time I’ve spoken to you since, your father has been forcing you into situations he has no right putting you in.”
I swallow hard, my heart pounding. “Just… stay out of it, alright? This is something I need to do on my own.”
His jaw clenches, and for a moment I think he’ll argue further. Then he nods, stepping back with a frustrated huff. “Fine. But if things go sideways, I’m coming for you.”
“Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that,” I reply, though part of me thrills at the idea of being someone worth coming for. Deacon certainly wouldn’t have dropped everything to come to my aid out of fear of my father.
The look he gives me as he turns to leave is filled with unspoken promises and dark warnings.
“See you later,” I say, watching as he climbs out my window. He stops perched on the windowsill and motions me over with one finger. I move toward him only for him to grab the front of my top and yank me closer, crashing his lips against mine briefly.
“Training grounds?” I pull away. “I just wanna know in case you call me to come get you,” he adds. I eye him suspiciously. “Or just say the word and I’ll march you out that door while telling your guards to suck each other’s dicks and kidnap you?”I huff.
“It was worth a try,” he chuckles.
“You really would, wouldn’t you?” I smirk.
“I can order them to fuck each other if you’d prefer?”
I laugh shaking my head. “Go, before you get me in trouble.”
“You call me if something goes wrong,” he tells me, and I nod. Not that I would; I can’t run to Zayn every time and lately, the amount of times I’ve needed rescuing is becoming embarrassing.
“See you soon,” he pecks my lips before jumping to the ground.
A part of me wants to run after him, to bury myself in his arms and forget everything going on. But obligation and pride anchor me in place. I steel myself for what’s to come, knowing it won’t be pleasant if Lydia is involved.
